Pneumatic cleaner



D. B. REPLOGLE PNEUMATIC CLEANER Oct. 10, 1939.

Original Filed Aug. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 10, 1939. D, REPLOGLE 2,175,642

PNEUMATIC CLEANER Original Filed Aug. 5, 1956 2 s t -s t 2 0; B. AEPLOGLE,

Patented Oct. 10, 193 9 UNITED STATES PNEUMATIC CLEANER Daniel Benson Replogle, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to The Ohio Citizens Trust Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as trustee Application August 5, 1936, Serial No. 94,438 Renewed August I, 1939 4 Claims.

The invention relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly to portable electrically operated suction cleaners which may be selectively employed forfloor cleaning purposes with the use.

of a suitable floor tool or may be arranged to utilize suitable extension devices which may be employed for cleaning walls, furniture or the like.

In designing the apparatus it is my aim to utilize to a large extent standard and interchangeable parts, connections and the like which are covered by my prior patents and applications and which are included in what is known as the "Air-Way system, the term Air-Way being covered by registered trade mark.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my prior application Serial No. 13,164, filed March 26, 1935 for Air-method electric cleaner and carpet sweeper, now Patent No.

2,085,042, and of my application Serial No. 55,290 filed December 19, 1935 for Air-method electric cleaner and carpet sweeper, the entire disclosures of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference as part of the disclosure of the present application.

According to the preferred embodiment of my invention the cleaner comprises: (1) a body portion which includes suction producing means and preferably a floor tool carried thereby, (2) a swinging handle from which may be supported a dust filtering bag, and (3) an auxiliary hose extension. device which may be carried by the cleaner with one end connected to the suction producing means while the other end is adapted to .be releasably supported by the handle portion of the cleaner when the extension device is inoperative or may be applied to the walls, furniture or the like when the extension device is in One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved supporting device for the hose extension, preferably on the handle of the cleaner.

Another object is to provide a handle which may be detached from the body of the cleaner.

A further object is to provide means for supporting the handle. while the extension device is in operation.

' A further object is to provide means whereby the neck of the cleaner bag may be readily'supported within a cage-like frame. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and following detailed description in which are set forth for the purpose of illustration certain struc-' tural embodiments of the inventive thought involved, it being understood that the invention is not limited to structural details.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cleaner in accordance with my invention wherein the handle is provided with means for supporting the nozzle 10 end of the hose extension.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the handle portion shown removed from the rest of the cleaner.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the extension device shown removed from the cleaner.

Fig. 5 is a detail side view of an attachment for closing the end of the extension nozzle.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the same.

Fig. '7 is a side view of the cleanerwith the handle supported in vertical position and the 20 extension hose in operative position.

Fig. 8 is a view of the cleaner wherein the handle is supported by contact of a projection with the fan motor casing, the hose extension being in operative position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of a modified form of apparatus wherein the handle is supported by a bracket from the floor.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing a slightly different form of handle.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the cleaner showing a separate cap in use when the apparatus is employed for floor cleaning purposes. I

Fig. 12 is a view showing a cap with hose extension which may be applied in place of the cap in Fig. 11.

According to the preferred embodiment of my invention the cleaner comprises three principal cooperating parts which are separable from each other and which may be independently repaired 40 extension adapted to be carried by the cleaner handle.

Describing the apparatus more in detail and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 the body portion of the cleaner comprises a motor casing H) which houses a-high speed electric motor (not shown) supplied by a conductor cord from any suitable source. This arrangement of parts may be similar to what is shown in my Reissue Patent No. 16,224 dated December 15, 1925. Above the motor is a fan casing ll having a discharge outlet I 2 and housing a high speed centrifugal fan driven by the motor. An inlet opening I 4 at the top of the fan casing is preferably closed by the transparent cap l5 of the member C which cap is provided with a flange fitting into the opening while the main portion of the cap is transparent so that the operator may'observe the quantity of dust being drawn into the fan chamber. The valve cap may be equipped with an indicating arrow.

Extending from the top of the cap there may be provided a flexible hose extension [6 having a suitable nozzle H on the end thereof. The nozzle end of the hose extension is adapted to be carried by the handle of the cleaner in a manner which will be more fully described hereinafter. The flange ll! of the valve cap seats in the top of the fan casing which likewise constitutes a valve casing and said flange is provided with a side opening [9 adapted to be placed in communication with a passageway 20 leading to a nozzle or floor tool 2| as described in my prior Patent No. 2,085,042 and application Serial No. 55,290 aforesaid. As shown a pair of chambered arms 22 extend rearwardly from the nozzle, one on each side of the outlet passage. These arms support the motor 23 which is adapted to drive a revolving brush (not shown) mounted within the nozzle. A conductor cord 24 may be supplied from windings within the motor casing Ill and parallel with the motor windings and thus derive its electrical power from the conductor cord supplying the fan motor.

If desired the floor tool may be made detachable and may be 'of the form shown in my Reissue Patent No. 16,224 referred to above or in my recent Patent No. 1,994,868. In these forms no revolving brush is contemplated and consequently the extra motor may be eliminated.

In the present embodiment of the invention the handle portion is shown as a cage-like structure such as is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,085,- 042. This structure is'hingedly and detachably connected to the body portion and is adapted to support the air filtering bag therein. However, the handle may be of other form such as is shown for example in my application Serial No. 499,575,

" now Patent No. 2,123,912, or in my Patent No.

2,009,455 dated July 30, 1935 wherein the cleaner bag is suspended from the handle.

As herein shown the handle includes longitudinal members 26 preferably constituting resilient wires or bars which terminate at the rear in a solid handle or grip portion21. The longitudinal wires are connected at intervals by U-shaped members 28. The top wires terminate at the front in eyes 29-29 and are connected adjacent the forward portion by a cross member which includes a loop 30 adapted to yieldingly engage the neck of the dust collector bag. An extension member 3| is shown as formed integral with the lowest wire of which the handle is composed and the point of thisextensionmember is adapted to engage the lower and rear portion of the fan casing when the handle is lowered so as to support'the handle above the floor as indicated for example'in Fig. 8.

The longitudinal members 26 and the U-shaped members 28 constitute in effect an open work cage into which fits the dust collector bag. When the bag is expanded by the air which flows thereinto the sides of the bag tightly flt the cage which serves to reinforce and support the bag and prevent bursting.

The dust collector preferably comprises a. pair of cooperating inner and outer bags, the inner bag 32 being preferably of porous paper while the outer bag 33 may be of cloth or other relatively coarse mesh material such for example as mosquito netting, matting or the like as described for example in my Patent No. 1,416,876 or in my Patent No. 2,016,295 or in my Patent No. 2,085,- 042. The reduced neck of the bag rests in the loop 30 of the handle.

The handle is swingingly connected to the body portion by applying the eyes 2929 over outturned portions of bracket irons 3434 which are carried by the body portion, one on each side of the fan discharge outlet 12. The resiliency of the wires of which the cage is composed permits ready assembly or removal of the handle, it being only necessary to draw the front ends of the top wires slightly apart in applying the handle to the bracket arms.

The dust collecting and air filtering bag is placed in communication with the fan discharge outlet 12 through any suitable flexible coupling, one such coupling being illustrated at 35 in the form of a flexible hose which is connected at one end to the discharge outlet of the fan and at the other end to a connector 36 which enters the paper bag mouth, as more fully described in my Patent No. 1,416,876 and in my pending application Serial No. 552,050, now Patent No. 2,123,- 913. Instead of a flexible hose 35 other flexible connections may be employed as for example a swinging elbow joint such as is illustrated in my Patent No. 2,009,455 dated July 30, 1935.

' The end of the bag remote from the fan discharge outlet may be connected through aspring 31 or other means to a hook or the like 38 carried by the handle grip 21.

The attachment C comprising the transparent cap 15 and the hose l6 has been briefly referred to as fitted over the fan inlet. When the cap I5 is in one position the side opening l9 places the floor tool 2| in communication with the source of suction through the passage 20 and opening ill, but at the same time the hose 5 is also in communication with the source of suction. Accordingly when the floor tool is to be used and the hose is inoperative I provide means for closing the nozzle end of the hose and for supporting the same when not in use. As shown a flexible U- shaped bracket 39 is carried by one of the longitudinal wires of which the handle is composed adjacent the rear end thereof and is adapted to support the neck of the hose near the nozzle, and just beyond it another bracket 40 is provided which is carried by the handle grip 21. This bracket carries a plug 4| of any suitable material which is adapted to close the end of the hose nozzle and prevent air from being drawn therein as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The operation of the cleaner will now be described: When the apparatus is to be used for ordinary floor cleaning purposes the hose I6 is carried by the bracket 39 and the nozzle H on the end thereof is closed by the plug 4|.

The fan motor having been started suction is is illustrated in Fig. 8.

produced which draws dust laden air into the floor tool, this air passing "thence through passage 20, opening IS, in the cap l5, thence through the'fan and discharge outlet l2 into the dust collecting and air filtering device, the dust being retained within. the bag and the air passing out through the pores of the paper and outer cloth covering. 7 The apparatus may be moved to and fro across the floor by? means of the handle which also serves to support the dust collecting bag and one end of the hose extension.

When the extension device is to be used f0!" cleaning walls, furniture or the like the nozzle end of the hose is removed from the bracket supporting the same on the handle and the cap I5 is turned so that the arrow points away from the floor tool, therebybririging the unperforated portion of the flange 18 to a position to cut oft-flowfrom the fioortool.

The dust collector and handle may be .sup-

ported from a hook' or bracket 42 on the wall as should be cleaned thoroughly by air. They may be shaken around in this receptacle and thoroughly dusted without going into the paper bag. Also if desired a net cover' may be placed over the endoi the nozzle through which air is drawn into the hose as indicated for example inmy Patent No. 1,994,869 dated'March 19, 1935. .The extension hose may be lengthened by the use of auxiliary members to any desiredextent so that the hose may reach entirely across the room ,or throughout the various rooms of a'house. In

'such case the apparatus functions in a manner similar to the stationary type suction cleaner system. A further modification of the invention is illustrated in Fig, 9 wherein the handle of the dust collector is supported by means of a flexible wheeled bracket 44 resting upon the floor while in Fig. 10 an attachment. projecting from the handle at the front thereof contacts the motor casing in the manner similar to what It will be understood that while in the various modifications the cage form of handle has been illustratedthis type of handle is not required insofar as the broad features of the invention are concerned.

In Figs. 11 and 12 a modification is shown wherein a separate cap 50 is adapted to be applied to cover the fan inlet when the floor tool is in use, this cap being adapted to be replaced by the horizontal hose attachment shownjin Fig. 12 consisting of'the cap 5|, hose I6 and nozzle II. This attachment is the same as that shown inFig. 4 except that the cap 5| doesnot require a side opening in the flange which extends into the fan casing. The cap 50 however, which is used when the-floor tool is in operation, is provided with such an opening to permit dust laden air to be drawn into the fan from the floor tool nozzle. With this form of device the attachments on the handle for supporting the hose and for closing the nozzle maybe. omitted ifioor in either thefioor cleaning or wall clean- -ing positions. f-I'he motor extends downwardly and rearwardly from the fan casing providing a well-balanced structure and the cap with the hose extension is in a position which is accessible at all times.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that many variations. and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, the combination with (1) a wheeled. body portion including suction producing means having an inlet and a discharge outlet, a suction chamber communicating .with said suction producing means and having a pair of inlets, a floor tool adapted tobe placed in communication with one of said inlets,-and

(2) a swinging handle supporting an air filter connected with the discharge outlet of said sucing an extension hose pipe communicating with h the top thereof, and means carried by the handle for closing the inlet end of said hose pipe and tion producing means; of (3) a cap fitting over the second inlet of said suction chamber and havconnected to said cap, and means carried by the cleaner for supporting the free end of the hose when in.inoperative position, said means including a stopper for closing the end of the hose.

3. A suction cleaner having suction producing means, an open topped suction chamber com- .municatin'g with said suction producing means,

a floor tool .suction nozzle having an outlet passage communicating with said suction chamber,

a-cap for said suction chamber, including valve means for controlling the passage leading from the suction nozzle, a flexible hose connected with said cap, and means carried by the'cle'aner for supporting the free end of the hose when not in use, said means including a' stopper for closing the end of the hose.

4. A portable electric suction cleaner having suction producing means, an open topped suction chamber communicating with said suction producing means,-a floor tool suction nozzle having an outlet passage communicating with said suction chamber, a rotatable cap removablypositioned in the top of said chamber, said cap. includingvalve means for controlling the passage leading from the suction nozzle, a flexible hose carried by said cap, and means independent of the cap for cutting oil communication through said hose when the floor tool nozzle is operatively connected to the suction chamber.

DANIEL BENSON 

